Recycled composite materials and related methods

ABSTRACT

Methods of producing particles of fiber and resin from fiber-resin composite materials are disclosed. The particles may be combined with a resin system and optionally combined with fillers, binders or reinforcements to produce new cured solid composite products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/340,286, filed Mar. 15, 2010, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to the recycling and reuse of compositematerials, such as fiberglass and other fiber-reinforced materials, tocreate new products.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Nearly every industry utilizes fiberglass and fiber-reinforced materialsfor a variety of components and products. Worldwide demand for thesematerials has exploded due to increased demand for both consumer andindustrial products, most notably in electronics, aircraft,construction, renewable energy, automotive, and infrastructuredevelopment (e.g. public structures). In United States, China, andIndia, nearly 80% of consumer purchases are discarded after a singleuse. These economies offer a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on thesurplus of useable waste materials. The global demand for clean energyand infrastructure up-gradation is also expected to boost the compositefiber glass industry's growth in the future.

The government of the United States has become increasingly interestedin developing sustainable energy infrastructure. Onshore wind resourcescould generate nearly 37,000,000 gigawatt-hours annually, more than ninetimes current total electricity consumption in the United States. In2009, the wind industry added nearly 10,000 megawatts of new capacity,enough to power the equivalent of 2.4 million homes or generate as muchelectricity as three large nuclear power plants. Therefore, fiberglassdemand from wind turbine manufacturers is expected to grow considerablyover the next decade. A single turbine blade may require 28,600 poundsof fiberglass.

Fiberglass and fiber-reinforced materials are also in demand inconstruction of buildings, roads and other infrastructure. In the UnitedStates, insulation demand is expected to rise 5.3% annually through2012, based on renewed growth in housing construction. Fiberglass willremain the leading insulation material and outpace demand for the secondlargest type, foamed plastic. Fiberglass building materials are thenewest and most promising advancement in the construction materialindustry. In the past, steel doors and plastic vinyl windows dominatedthe building market. But market trends are quickly transforming themarketplace. Fiberglass is more aesthetically pleasing than steel andvinyl, and can be designed to appear identical to wood but last fordecades of use. Whereas vinyl windows cannot be painted, fiberglassframes can be painted in any color. From 2000 to 2005, the fiberglassdoor market increased from 9% to 23% of the market and was expected toreach 33% by the end of 2009. Indeed, fiberglass doors and windows havebecome the preferred material for such building products. Other growthareas in the pipes, power poles, automobile and marine construction.

Concrete can be strengthened by 70% using recycled fiberglass reinforcedplastic (FRP). Moreover, FRP material has been proven to also improveasphalt, rubber, and wood products. Material can be applied to improve,guard rail posts, drop blocks for bridge walls, expansion joints, signposts, noise barriers, traffic barriers, light posts, curbing, erosioncontrol, and quick fix coating and fillers. FRP materials can be used inthe repair of roads in poor condition and in the repair of bridges inthe United States.

In many ways, however, fiberglass and fiber-reinforced materials havebecome problematic both in consumer and commercial markets due tonegative environmental effects. Fiberglass insulation, among otherproducts, for example, is now viewed as a potential hazard to theenvironment and one's health if inhaled. In fact, the state ofCalifornia mandates that “fiberglass producers to use at least thirtypercent post-consumer cullet in fiberglass building insulation made orsold in California” (California Integrated Waste Management Board,2009). At the same time, there is a growing demand for recycling andrecycled consumer products in the U.S. According to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, Americans are recycling now more than ever in U.S.history. In 1990, Americans recycled 16% of waste, a percentage thatincreased to 32% in 2005. Municipal solid waste also decreased by twomillion tons to just under 246 million tons nationwide.

Fiberglass and other fiber-reinforced materials have long been difficultto recycle into new and useful products. Some manufacturers offiberglass goods, for example, are trying to dramatically increase useof reclaimed fiberglass in the production processes. While thesecompanies have investigated methods to reclaim fiberglass for consumerproducts both domestically and abroad, manufacturers have only been ableto obtain sufficient reclaimed fiberglass to replace ten to twenty-fivepercent of virgin resins used in fiberglass products. In many cases,large-scale items such as composite windmill turbine blades are simplyburied in landfills or burned.

There are many reasons for the interest in maximizing the use ofreclaimed fiber-reinforced products. While reclaimed fiberglass offers away to reduce manufacturing costs, environmental concerns are alsomotivating manufacturers to reuse or recycle fiber-reinforced products.Consumers are showing a preference for environmentally awaremanufacturers, and the federal and state governments are investigatingthe mandating of a timetable to eliminate fiberglass from the wastestream or mandating the use of recycled composite materials in finishedgoods.

Past attempts at recycling fiberglass have failed because the process ofbreaking down the discarded materials was too complex and costly, andbecause the collection system to ensure an ample supply of incomingmaterials was not in place. Past equipment lacked the necessaryadvancement to produce viable reclaimed fiber-reinforced products. Manyof the ventures failed because they could not get enough raw materialsto meet the demands. Furthermore, the concerns of contingent liabilityprevented some generators from sending materials to be recycled.

The citation of documents herein is not to be construed as reflecting anadmission that any is relevant prior art. Moreover, their citation isnot an indication of a search for relevant disclosures. All statementsregarding the date(s) or contents of the documents is based on availableinformation and is not an admission as to their accuracy or correctness.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to products that contain composite material aswell as methods of processing the material and methods of making theproducts. In many cases, the composite material is fiberglass or otherfiber-reinforced material, including recycled fiberglass or recycledfiber-containing material. The composite material is broken down intoparticles that are used in forming new products. The new products may bedesigned to emit no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no hazardousair pollutants, even in cases where the composite material emits VOCs orhazardous air pollutants prior to use as disclosed herein. The productsmay be designed for use in structural applications, with non-limitingexamples being roads, railroad ties, traffic barriers, telephone polesand telephone pole cross bars, dock planking, sea walls, pilings, bumperstops, and posts. In other applications, the products may be for use innon-structural or decorative consumer products.

In a first aspect, the disclosure includes a method of processingcomposite material into smaller pieces, optionally with resin releasedfrom the material. In some cases, the composite material is fiberglassor another fiber-reinforced material, and the method produces pieces offiber and resin and/or pieces that are a mixture of fiber and resin. Insome embodiments, the small particles are used in forming new compositeproducts as disclosed herein.

In a second aspect, the disclosure includes a method of producingproducts with the processed composite material produced by a methoddisclosed herein. In some cases, the processed material is recycled orreclaimed fiberglass or fiber-reinforced materials as disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the methods of the disclosure may be viewed as therecycling of composite materials or raw materials that are waste ordamaged beyond usefulness. In many embodiments, the composite materialsare large finished products, such as boat hulls, aircraft parts andcomposite windmill blades as non-limiting examples. In such cases, thecomposite materials may be further processed, before or after use in amethod disclosed herein, to remove undesirable contaminants orcomponents.

In other embodiments, the methods of the disclosure are practiced inrelation to producing composite products with recycled components.Recycled components of the disclosure include composite material, suchas fiberglass or other fiber-reinforced material, that has beenprocessed by a method disclosed herein. In many cases, the producedproducts emit no or low amounts of VOCs or hazardous air pollutants.

In further embodiments, the methods of the disclosure are practiced inrelation to a recycling program that sets baseline waste generationamounts and provides goals and targets for reducing waste generation.The program tracks waste reduction and may report results on an annualor other basis. Waste reductions may be converted to carbon equivalentsfor which certification may be provided.

In an additional aspect, the disclosure includes products that containcomposite material processed by a disclosed method. In many cases, theprocessed composite material is recycled or reclaimed fiberglass orother fiber-reinforced materials. The products may be structural ornon-structural and may also have decorative aspects.

In other non-limiting embodiments, the products include additionalcomponents such as rubber, plastics, aggregate solid particulates,aggregate rock, silica, fly ash, cement, sand, and other kinds ofcrushed rock or gravel.

In further embodiments, the products are produced by curing of processedcomposite material together with a resin system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a chart illustrating a method of processing compositematerials.

FIG. 2 is a chart illustrating a method of recycling composite materialsto produce new solid composite products.

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating a method of processing compositematerials in parallel with processing of recycling or carbon credits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MODES OF PRACTICING THE DISCLOSURE

As described herein, the disclosure includes a method of processing, orbreaking down, a composite material for subsequent use, such as theproduction of a product as disclosed herein. In some cases, the methodproduces particles from a composite material or a reclaimed (orrecycled) composite material. A disclosed method to break down compositematerial may include, as non-limiting examples, shredding, crushing,chopping, cutting, ripping, tearing, pounding, grinding or otherwisedegrading a composite material to form small pieces of compositematerial. The small pieces of composite material may then be ground toform smaller particles of composite material.

In some embodiments, a method of the disclosure is practiced with acommercial or industrial shredder and a commercial or industrialfiber-resin product grinder such as a Seawolf FRP Grinder. In somecases, a shredder and/or grinder of the disclosure is portable such thatthe processing of composite material can occur on site or at thelocation of the material, thereby reducing transportation costs.

In many embodiments, the composite material used in a disclosed methodrecycles pre-existing composite products or raw materials that arewaste, surplus or damaged beyond usefulness. Non-limiting examples ofsources of such materials include cured or uncured scrap and rovingsfrom fiberglass and fiber-reinforced plastic manufacturers and productmanufacturers, boat hulls and other marine equipment, composite turbineblades, including windmill blades, and aircraft parts. In many cases,the input materials are fiber-reinforced materials formed from polyesterand styrene resin. Non-limiting examples of fiber materials includefiberglass, graphite, carbon, nylon, and KEVLAR® and other syntheticfibers.

In some cases, the composite material is too large to fit into theshredder or grinder. Therefore, the methods of the disclosure mayinclude crushing, cutting, chopping, ripping, tearing or otherwisereducing large pieces of composite material to a size and shape thatfits into a commercial or industrial shredder, crusher, chopper orgrinder. Cutting or crushing process or procedure are known in the artto reduce the size of the composite materials, including those processesand procedures that require air permits from the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) for indoor or outdoor operation.

In some embodiments, composite materials are sorted for size and contentprior to processing as disclosed herein. The composite materials mayalso be cleaned before processing with appropriate solvents or cleanersbefore, or during the break down process. In some cases, the cleaningoccurs before shredding. In many embodiments, the composite materialsinclude additional components that are undesirable for inclusion in newcomposite products, or foreign material has been combined with thecomposite materials. Non-limiting examples of such contaminants includewood products, and ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In such cases,additional processing of the composite materials may be performed toremove the contaminant(s). Non-limiting examples of additionalprocessing include exposure of composite materials to a magnet ormagnetic surface to attract and remove select metal contaminants. Suchmagnets may be part of a conveyance system such as a vibratory conveyor.By way of another example, pieces or particles of composite material maybe placed in a rotational device such as a centrifuge or cyclone andspun at high revolutions so that heavier objects such as pieces of metalor stone are separated from the lighter pieces or particles of compositematerial. Of course, multiple separation processes may be performed inrelation each of the acts in a method of the disclosure. In many cases,any metal collected from these and other separation processes known inthe art may also be recycled.

The disclosure also includes methods including the grinding of smallpieces of composite material into smaller particles of compositematerials. Optionally, the particles, which may comprise both fiber andresin, need not be separated into fiber and resin components asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,424, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth. The particles may be further used toform a solid composite product as disclosed herein. As a non-limitingexample, the particles may be combined with a resin system to produce asolid, fiber-reinforced composite product. In other cases, the particlesmay be combined with other dry binders, fillers, reinforcements, orstrengthening agents to produce a dry mixture product. In furtherinstances, the particles may be used as an additive or as astrengthening matrix to increase product life, strength, and/ordurability of an enhanced product. Non-limiting examples of an enhancedproduct include plastic resins, resin castings, casings, fiberboard,traffic barriers, railroad ties, planking, concrete, rubber and woodcomposite products.

In many embodiments, the small pieces to be ground down are no greaterthan about three inches in diameter. In other embodiments, the pieces ofthe invention are not greater than about 2.5 inches, not greater thanabout two inches, or not greater than about 1.5 inch in diameter. Insome embodiments, the pieces are less than about one inch to about threeinches in diameter. As used throughout this disclosure, the term “about”followed by a numerical value indicates a range that includes thenumerical value and values that are from ten (10) percent greater thanto ten (10) percent less than the numerical value.

In other embodiments, the small pieces may be in the shape or form ofrods, strips, cubes, rectangular prisms, cylinders, or irregular shapes,wherein the width or length of the shape is less than about 24 inches.In other embodiments, the pieces have a width or length less than about18 inches, less than about 12 inches, less than about 10 inches, lessthan about 8 inches, less than about 6 inches, less than about 4 inchesor less than about 2 inches.

In many embodiments, the disclosed grinding process produces particleswith an average fiber length of about one inch or less. In otherembodiments, the particles have an average fiber length of aboutone-half inch or less, about one-quarter inch or less, or aboutone-eighth inch or less. In some embodiments, the particles of theinvention have an average fiber length from about one-half inch to aboutone-eighth inch, or about one-half to about one-quarter inch, or aboutone-quarter to about one-eighth inch.

As described herein, a method of the disclosure comprises making orforming solid composite products with particles of composite material.The composite material may be “recycled” material produced by the breakdown process disclosed herein. The disclosure thus includes a method ofprocessing a composite material as described herein to form particles ofcomposite material that are then used to produce a solid compositeproduct. In some embodiments, the method includes shredding, crushingand/or grinding a composite material, such as a reclaimed material, intoparticles, combining the particles with resin to forma mixture,disposing the mixture into a form or a mold, and curing the mixture toform a solid composite product.

Of course particles produced in accordance with the disclosure may bestored separately or in mixture with one or more agent. Non-limitingexamples of agents include dry binders, fillers, catalysts,reinforcements, and strengthening agents suitable for use in forming acomposite product. As a non-limiting example, the ground compositematerial (particles) may be combined with aggregate rock and/or silicaand stored until use in production or manufacture of a compositeproduct.

In some embodiments, the resin may require a catalyst for operation. Inother cases, the resin does not require a catalyst. In some cases, theresin may require applied heat and/or pressure to cure, while in othercases the resin may be cured at room temperature. In yet other cases,the resins may also have been recycled from pre-existing materials.Non-limiting examples of resins include flowable plastic, polymer,epoxy, saturated and unsaturated non-styrenated polyester, and vinylester resins. In some cases, use of a styrene-free polyester resin willreduce or eliminate the outgassing of VOCs or hazardous air pollutantsfrom the cured solid composite product.

As disclosed, a method of the disclosure may include curing the mixtureof resin and particles, with or without the addition of other componentsand optionally without applied heat or pressure. In many cases, themixture is disposed, placed or poured into a form or mold. In othercases, the mixture is extruded into a form or closed molding. In furthercases, the mixture is poured into casts. In yet other cases, the mixturemay be formed into a large block or other shape from which multipleproducts may be machined or otherwise formed. In other embodiments,appropriate pressures and temperatures are applied to produce the curedproducts.

In some embodiments, a method of producing a composite product ispracticed with one or more additional components in forming a solidcomposite product. Non-limiting examples of components in aparticle-resin mixture include binders, fillers, resins, catalysts,reinforcements, and strengthening agents. Additional non-limitingexamples of components include aggregate solid particulates, aggregaterock, gravel, sand, wood, textiles, pipes, rods, bars, fibers, metals,honeycombs, spacers, fillers, resin, recycled resin, plastic resin,catalysts, recycled polymers, paper fibers, binders, cement, magnesiumoxide, water, cement, limestone, granite, chemical additives, andcombinations thereof. In some cases, an additional component is mixedinto the resin-particle mixture. In other cases, a component is disposedor placed into the form, mold, cast or the like prior to the addition ofthe mixture. In yet other cases, the component is disposed or placedinto the form, mold, cast or the like after the addition of the mixture.

The disclosure further includes a method of combining compositeparticles with binders, fillers or other reinforcement materials,optionally mixing the combination with resin, optionally disposing themixture in a mold and optionally curing the mixture.

As disclosed herein, a cured composite product comprises resin andparticles of composite, optionally fiber-reinforced, material. In manycases, the products may also include additional components such asaggregate rock, gravel, sand, wood, textiles, pipes, rods, bars, fibers,metals, honeycombs, spacers, fillers, resin, recycled resin, plasticresin, catalysts, recycled polymers, paper fibers, binders, cement,magnesium oxide, water, cement, limestone, granite, chemical additives,and combinations thereof.

As described, a composite product of the disclosure comprises resin andparticles of composite material. In some cases, the particles ofcomposite material form no more than about 50% by weight of the curedproduct. In other cases, the particles form no more than about 40%,about 30%, about 25%, about 20%, about 15%, about 10% or about 5% byweight of the cured product. Alternatively, in some cases the resincomprises less than about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 25%, about20%, about 15% or about 10% of the weight of the cured product.

In other embodiments, a composite product of the disclosure comprisesresin, particles of composite material and aggregate particulates oraggregate rock. In some cases, the particles of composite material formno more than about 50% by weight of the cured product. In other cases,the particles form no more than about 40%, about 30%, about 25%, about20%, about 15%, about 10% or about 5% by weight of the cured product. Insome cases the resin comprises less than about 50%, about 40%, about30%, about 25%, about 20%, about 15% or about 10% of the weight of thecured product. In other cases, the aggregate comprises less than about80%, about 70%, about 60%, about 50%, about 40%, about 30% or about 20%of the weight of the cured product. In yet other embodiments, theproduct further includes silica, which forms no more than about 40%,about 30%, about 25%, about 20%, about 15%, about 10% or about 5% byweight of the cured product.

In some embodiments, a composite product of the disclosure comprisesresin, particles of composite material, silica and aggregate rock. Insome cases, the ratio of these four components by weight in the curedproduct is about 25:15:20:40. In other cases, the ratio is about20:20:20:40 or about 25:10:20:45.

In other embodiments, a composite product of the disclosure maywithstand a compressive stress of at least about 10,000 psi with acompressive stress of less than about 7%. In further embodiments, theweight of a product of the disclosure may increase by less than about 1%after immersion in water for 24 hours.

Having now generally provided the disclosure, the same will be morereadily understood through reference to the following examples which areprovided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting ofthe disclosure, unless specified.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Manufacture of Prototypes

Prototypes with dimensions of about 0.75″×1.0″×10″ were produced withthe following mixture:

-   -   23% resin by weight    -   15% ground recycled fiberglass product with ¼″ fiber length    -   20% silica    -   42% aggregate rock in varying sizes

The mixture was packed into a high density polyethylene molds and curedunder vacuum pressure. The prototypes were machined following curing.

Example 2 Prototype Testing—Flexural Bending

A flexural bending test was performed on prototypes according to Example1 with the following results.

TABLE 1 Displacement Max Width Thickness at Max Load load MOE MOR (in)(in) (in) (

) (psi) (psi) Specimen State 1 1.000 0.750 0.180 175.7 213458 3012.4Vacuum Bagged - Smooth 2 1.000 0.750 0.153 152.6 209347 2786.7 VacuumBagged - Rough 3 1.000 0.750 0.140 210.4 337081 3605.0 Vacuum Bagged -Smooth/Rough 4 1.000 0.750 0.135 158.7 217193 2719.8 Hard Packed 5 1.0000.750 0.154 177.6 195861 3044.4 Hard Packed 6 1.000 0.750 0.118 130.5115746 2236.8 Hard Packed Mean 1.000 0.750 0.148 169.2 226448 2901.0 St.0.000 0.000 0.004 26.310 40245.683 450.980 Dev COV 0.000 0.000 16.26715.546 17.773 15.546

indicates data missing or illegible when filedThe modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the modulus of rupture (MOR)calculations were performed for each specimen and an average wascalculated. The sample had an average MOE of 226,448 psi and a MOR of2,901 psi.

Example 3 Prototype Testing—Compression

A compression test was performed on smaller sections of prototypesaccording to Example 1 with the following results.

TABLE 2 Compressive Compressive Extension at stress at strain at ModulusMaximum Maximum Maximum Maximum (automatic Width Depth Load load loadload youngs) (in) (in) (in) (

) (

) (%) (psi) 1 0.906 0.950 −0.050 −11573.953 11.74 6.18 339340 2 0.9550.990 −0.045 −11138.159 11.73 5.96 353341 3 0.904 0.990 −0.053−10782.110 12.05 6.88 341853 4 0.944 0.984 −0.043 −10934.716 11.77 5.62367608 5 0.885 0.992 −0.044 −9776.653 11.15 5.55 358623 6 0.943 0.958−0.054 −10683.755 11.47 7.07 314801 Mean 0.938 0.989 −0.048 −10814.89111.66 6.21 345928 St. 0.039 0.003 0.005 598.539 0.311 0.638 18520 Dev.COV 4.179 0.259 −10.061 −5.534 2.667 10.275 5

indicates data missing or illegible when filedThe prototype sections performed remarkably well, averaging a maximumstress of 11,660 psi.

Example 4 Specimen Testing—Water Absorption

Specimens were fully immersed in distilled water for a period of 24hours with the following results.

TABLE 3 Water Absorption Testing Initial Final Weight Weight WeightChange Specimen (g) (g) % 1 5.3553 5.3974 0.7

1 2 3.6210 3.6

03 0.

230 3 3.3

4 3.39

0.

637 4 4.3855 4.4224 0.8414 5 3.7204 3.7517 0.8413 Mean 4.0

03 4.1242 0.8311 St. Dev. 0.800

0.

0

1 0.0290 COV (%) 19.574% 19.547% 3.466%

indicates data missing or illegible when filedThe specimens experienced an average weight change of 0.8311%.

Example 5

Referring to FIG. 1, composite materials are collected in 1 fromoriginal equipment manufacturers and other recycling sources. Compositematerials are cut to size in 10 with power saws or other cuttingequipment to fit into an industrial or commercial shredder. Thecomposite materials are shredded into pieces in 12, after which thepieces are placed in a commercial or industrial grinder in 14. Theresulting composite particles are combined with resin system 16 andcured in 18 in a mold or form under applied pressure and temperature asnecessary.

Example 6

Referring to FIG. 2, a windmill composite turbine blade weighing about22,000 pounds and about 220 feet long is collected and cleaned at 20.The blade is cut into sections each about 6.5″ by 85″ in height andwidth in 22 in order to fit into a commercial or industrial shredder.Each section is fed into a shredder of sufficient size that producessmall pieces of composite material of about 1.5″ to 2.5″ in diameter andnot more than 12″ in length in 24. The resulting pieces are fed into acomposite grinder at 26 using an appropriate screen size to produceground small particles of composite material with an average fiberlength of ¼ inch.

Additional fillers, binders or other reinforcement material, togetherwith a resin system, are introduced at 28. The fillers are aggregaterock and silica, and the resin is styrene-free polyester resin. Thecombined mixture is packed into a form or mold and cured to produce atraffic barrier in 30. The traffic barrier is treated with finishes thatare reflective and/or resist graffiti paints in 32.

Example 7

Ground small particles of composite material with an average fiberlength of ¼ inch is combined with aggregate rock, silica andstyrene-free polyester resin in a ratio of 42:20:15:23 and thoroughlymixed. The mixture is poured into a railroad tie mold in which a 4.5″diameter PVC pipe has been placed. The mixture is poured around andenrobes the pipe. The composite is cured at room temperature. Theresulting railroad tie withstands a minimum of 10,000 psi with less than7% compressive strain.

Example 8

Referring to FIG. 3, a system for processing composite materials forrecycling and tracking and applying recycling credits includes forexample in 40 collecting and organizing information relating tocomposite products, such as wind turbine blades, or other scrap parts,in a software program tailored to the needs of a wind energy producer.The damaged or scrap parts are processed according to the methods of thedisclosure in 42. The processor or recycler provides a certificate ofrecycling, or a certificate of deconstruction, to the wind energyproducer in 44. The processor or recycler, or their agents, may furthercollect and pass back to the energy producer the recycling credits in46. The processor or recycler combines the recycled composite materialswith resin and optionally other components to produce new solidcomposite products.

All references cited herein, including patents, patent applications, andpublications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties,whether previously specifically incorporated or not.

Having now fully described the inventive subject matter, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the same can be performedwithin a wide range of equivalent parameters; concentrations, andconditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosureand without undue experimentation.

While this disclosure has been described in connection with specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodifications. This application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the disclosure following, in general, theprinciples of the disclosure and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice within theart to which the disclosure pertains and as may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing particles from recycledcomposite materials comprising (a) shredding composite materials to formsmall pieces of shredded composite materials; and (b) grinding saidsmall pieces of shredded composite materials to form smaller particlesof composite materials.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said compositematerials are cured or uncured fiberglass or glass fiber-reinforcedplastic.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said composite materials arecomposite windmill turbine blades.
 4. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising using the particles to form a solid composite product.
 5. Amethod of forming the solid composite product according to claim 4comprising (a) producing particles according to the method of claim 1;and (b) combining said particles with resin to form a mixture; (c)disposing of the mixture in a form or mold; and (d) curing the mixtureto form a solid composite product.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein saidmixture further comprises binders, fillers, resins, catalysts,strengthening agents or combinations thereof before curing.
 7. Themethod of claim 6 wherein said wherein said mixture comprises aggregateof solid particulates.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said whereinsaid mixture comprises aggregate of solid particulates and silica. 9.The method of claim 5 wherein said product emits no volatile organiccompounds or hazardous air pollutants.
 10. A cured composite productcomprising (a) particles of composite materials according to the methodof claim 1; (b) aggregate; and (c) resin; wherein said composite productis cured.
 11. The composite product of claim 10, wherein the resin inthe cured composite product comprises less than about 30% by weight ofthe cured product.
 12. The composite product of claim 10, wherein saidparticles of composite materials comprises about 15% by weight of thecured product.
 13. The composite product of claim 10, wherein saidproduct further comprises silica of about 30% by weight of the curedproduct.
 14. The composite product of claim 10, wherein said aggregatecomprises about 50% by weight of the cured product.
 15. The compositeproduct of claim 10, wherein said particles of composite material has anaverage fiber length of less than about one-half inch in diameter. 16.The composite product of claim 10, wherein said particles of compositematerial has an average fiber length of about one-quarter inch indiameter.
 17. The composite product of claim 10, wherein said particlesof composite material has an average fiber length of from aboutone-eighth inch to about one-half inch in diameter.
 18. The compositeproduct of claim 10, wherein said composite product withstandscompressive stress of at least about 10,000 psi with a compressivestrain of less than about 7%.
 19. The composite product of claim 10,wherein the weight of said composite product increases less than about1% after immersion in water for 24 hours.
 20. The composite product ofclaim 10, wherein said product emits no volatile organic compounds orhazardous air pollutants.